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Bullying and harassment

In a workplace context, “harassment” is unwanted conduct related to a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010 (other than marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity) that has the purpose of violating a person’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for that person. Harassment in the workplace can also occur where a person reasonably considers conduct to have that effect, even if the effect is unintended.

“Bullying” is not defined in UK employment law. Acas defines workplace bullying as “offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting behaviour, an abuse or misuse of power through means that undermine, humiliate, denigrate or injure the person being bullied”. The Health and Safety Executive stresses that bullying is a pattern of behaviour rather than isolated instances, and states that it “involves negative behaviour being targeted at an individual, or individuals, repeatedly and persistently over time”.


    • Sexual harassment
    • Gender
    • Latest News

    Sullivan Review shows how ‘sex’ has been purged from data

    by Rob Moss 20 Mar 2025
    by Rob Moss 20 Mar 2025

    Sullivan Review shows how biological sex has been erased from official data and that the meaning of sex is ‘no longer stable’.

    • Sexual harassment
    • Bullying and harassment
    • Military

    ‘Independent’ team to handle Armed Forces complaints

    by Rob Moss 18 Mar 2025
    by Rob Moss 18 Mar 2025

    Tri-service team to handle bullying, discrimination and harassment complaints, 'independent' of army, air force and navy chain of command.

    • Sexual harassment
    • Corporate governance
    • Financial services

    Crispin Odey faces £1.8m fine and ban from financial services

    by Rob Moss 18 Mar 2025
    by Rob Moss 18 Mar 2025

    FCA announces decision to fine Crispin Odey £1.8m and ban him from the UK financial services industry for a lack of integrity.

    • Sexual harassment
    • Hospitality
    • Latest News

    Sexual harassment: Employees have the right to protection at work

    by Mike Clancy 18 Mar 2025
    by Mike Clancy 18 Mar 2025

    Following allegations of drink-spiking in Parliament, Mike Clancy considers how employers should protect staff from sexual harassment.

    • Sexual harassment
    • Bullying and harassment
    • Hospitality

    EHRC warns 1,400 McDonald’s branches of legal action against harassment

    by Jo Faragher 14 Mar 2025
    by Jo Faragher 14 Mar 2025

    The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has written to every branch of McDonald’s in the UK warning that owners could face action if they fail to protect staff from sexual harassment.

    • Social mobility
    • Sexual harassment
    • Financial services

    City financial regulators scrap DEI measures

    by Adam McCulloch 13 Mar 2025
    by Adam McCulloch 13 Mar 2025

    The Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority have written to Treasury Committee MPs to state they will retain existing framework rather than apply new DEI measures.

    • Bullying and harassment
    • Gender
    • Latest News

    Manager wins harassment case after Clarkson comment

    by Jo Faragher 10 Mar 2025
    by Jo Faragher 10 Mar 2025

    A marketing manager has won a claim for sex-based harassment and unfair dismissal after her manager endorsed degrading remarks.

    • Sexual harassment
    • Artificial intelligence
    • Employee relations

    New employment rights top priority for HR teams

    by Jo Faragher 10 Mar 2025
    by Jo Faragher 10 Mar 2025

    The top priority for HR teams in the coming year is adapting to the Employment Rights Bill, according to research by law firm Freeths.

    • Sexual harassment
    • Latest News
    • Pay settlements

    Huw Edwards ‘refuses’ to pay back salary received after arrest

    by Jo Faragher 5 Mar 2025
    by Jo Faragher 5 Mar 2025

    Former newsreader Huw Edwards has not paid back around £200,000 in salary he was asked to return to the BBC following his arrest and resignation.

    • Sexual harassment
    • Gender
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion

    Equality at work: ‘Men are out of touch’

    by Adam McCulloch 28 Feb 2025
    by Adam McCulloch 28 Feb 2025

    Research found that a quarter (26%) of working women were not promoted in pay, benefits or position in 2024, compared with just a fifth (20%) of men.

    • Sexual harassment
    • Bullying and harassment
    • Latest News

    Foxtons staff accuse firm of culture of harassment

    by Jo Faragher 26 Feb 2025
    by Jo Faragher 26 Feb 2025

    London estate agent Foxtons has urged staff to speak up amid allegations that employees were subject to sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour.

    • Bullying and harassment
    • Sleep
    • Wellbeing

    Workplace bullying can affect partner’s sleep as much as the employee

    by Nic Paton 21 Feb 2025
    by Nic Paton 21 Feb 2025

    Bullying in the workplace bullying affects not only the employee’s sleep but their partner’s too, according to research.

    • Sexual harassment
    • Bullying and harassment
    • Military

    Army inquest hears of widespread sexual harassment claims

    by Jo Faragher 19 Feb 2025
    by Jo Faragher 19 Feb 2025

    The head of the British Army has condemned the ‘appalling and shameful behaviour’ of officers after more than 1,000 women shared stories of abuse and sexual harassment.

    • Bullying and harassment
    • Employment law
    • Latest News

    Workplace ‘banter’ cause of 57 tribunal claims in 2024

    by Kavitha Sivasubramaniam 18 Feb 2025
    by Kavitha Sivasubramaniam 18 Feb 2025

    Workplace ‘banter’ continues to pose challenges for businesses, with 57 related employment tribunal cases recorded last year.

    • Case law
    • Scotland
    • Bullying and harassment

    Nurse at centre of trans tribunal faces conduct hearing

    by Jo Faragher 17 Feb 2025
    by Jo Faragher 17 Feb 2025

    The nurse at the centre of a tribunal against her employer, NHS Fife, has been asked to attend a conduct...

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